Happy Atheist Forum

Well today I was on reddit and I see tons of things about homosexuals and religion.  This is one of the biggest topics religion has been anal about (get it anal ).  Anyway I want this thread to be dedicated to NEW events about homosexuality and religion.  Maybe this will be popular enough to be a sticky.  

This is the format I would like for anyone posting new articles.  At the beginning of the post the link then a small summary of it (since the links might break after a long time), then after that whatever you want to discuss, rant, vent, or ask questions about.  If the thread gets real big I might just Edit and add new news to the OP but we'll see first.

Alright lets start:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/3/3/842722/-My-Nephew-was-outted,-and-then-kicked-out-of-school-

This article is about a kid with zealous parents who went to a private/religious school.  He is in his senior year and a few months from graduating when some kids at school "play a prank" on him by creating a false facebook page and have him acting gay on it.  Apparently he messed around and sent some explicit photos of himself and some comments which were screen shot, printed and given to the principal.  The principal called him to the office, asked him if it was true, when confirmed he expelled him with 4 months to go until he graduated with honors.  The kids parents wanted to take him to a minister to get "cured" where he skipped town and was on his way to florida to seek refuge with his aunt.  Who is asking for advice and said she will not turn him away.  His parents demanded she turn him back and when she refused they demanded he goes to a minister down in Florida to get "cured".  Which the aunt said no and now their relationship is in a bind.  She is asking for advice.

All I can really say about this is WTF.  

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2010/03/04/13106366-reuters.html

This article is about an alleged gay prostitution ring run in/by the Vatican.  Some of the people who have been caught running this ring have been linked to friends of the Pope.  Including Choir members that are always hired when a prime minister or the president shows up.  This was discovered by police in Italy via wiretaps.  It is unclear whether the Pope was involved but they are trying to link it with him.

Why does this not surprise me?

http://cbs13.com/local/ashburn.arrest.dui.2.1534505.html

Roy Ashburn, an anti-gay lawmaker was arrested for a DUI after leaving a gay club with a male passenger in a state issued vehicle.

Some things just don't surprise me anymore.  Who wants to bet he will enter some rehab and 2 weeks later announce he is "cured"?

That Aunt is my hero <3 <3

That aunt is awesome.

http://www.queerty.com/boulder-catholic-preschool-protects-students-by-banning-the-boy-with-2-mommies-20100305/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+queerty2+(Queerty)

 The Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School (a preschool) has denied re-admission to a kid because he has 2 mothers.  Apparently not only does the preschooler have to follow the Catholic Church's beliefs but the parents do too.  This is controversial to the teaching staff who have been told not to talk with the media, some have remained anonymous saying that they are disgusted by the Archdiocese's decision.

You would think if you were honestly concerned about the kid that you would do everything in your power to keep him there.  This is just another example of bigotry with the church.  They don't care about anyone but themselves.  They don't even think they are helping anyone is the problem here.  The church just wants to be bigoted, I mean if you think that homosexuality is a bad thing and this kid has homosexual parents, wouldn't you at least try to be a "safe haven" for the kid?  I mean yes they are completely wrong, but you would think if they cared about children that they would make themselves available to the kid just in case.  I mean that would at least show they are honest in their stupid convictions.  And how is it a benefit kicking the kid out?  Will he get gay on the other kids?  This is just a obvious case of the hypocritical being bigoted.  It's okay if their bishops and cardinals and elite choirs order from a gay prostitution ring ... but a kid with 2 moms  ... thats fucking sick... give me a break  

http://religionvirus.blogspot.com/2010/03/roseanne-barr-mormon-church-caused.html

This article talks about the tragic suicide of Marie Osmand's son.  Who killed himself because he was gay, and that the Mormon church is the cause.  The church is compared to an abusive husband where Marie turned to in her time of need after their bigotry drove her son to suicide.  She has a gay daughter to so look out.

I wasn't going to post this because it was a blog but I changed my mind.  It has a few links in it which are interesting.  Such as the Roman Catholic Church's ancient rite for homosexual marriage.  It talks about two Roman Cardinals being married (both male) which would be an interesting topic for discussion.  Anyway there are a lot of good points in this blog post comparing the Mormons to abusive spouses who beats submission into people and makes them dependent on them.

Vatican chorister sacked for allegedly procuring male prostitutes for papal gentleman-in-waiting.  

READ ALL ABOUT IT:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/ma ... ex-scandal (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/04/vatican-gay-sex-scandal)

As though the Roman Catholic Church has enough trouble with it's D.O. Ps (Dirty Old Priests) in Ireland and most other countries, it need this like a hole on the head

Quote from: "eccles"it need this like a hole on the head

I think they need a hole in the head.

http://www.theyounglib.com/political/29-virginia-is-for-lovers-unless-of-course-you-happen-to-be-gay
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/Cuccinelli.pdf

Okay the first link is a guy ranting about the 2nd link.  The 2nd link is too dry and boring so if you want you can skip to the last 2 paragraphs.  Basically the Virginia attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has now told Colleges and Universities in Virginia that LGBT people are not protected under the Non-Discrimination policy.  Apparently if you don't like gay people it is now okay to discriminate against them in colleges and universities in Virginia.  Isn't this wonderful news  

Just chiming in on the "that Aunt is awesome" train.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/08/roy-ashburn-california-st_n_490605.html

As you may recall in a previous link California State Senator Roy Ashburn (A republican) was pull over last week for drinking and driving, after leaving a gay night club, with a unidentified male in the car.  Well he finally made the statement he is Gay.  This asshat has served for 14 years and has consistently voted against gay rights.  In this link he is making statements about how he has tried for years to keep his position and his private life separate and is promising the people that he will continue to keep these things separate.

California voters should do what they can to make that easier for him.

Quote from: "elliebean"California voters should do what they can to make that easier for him.

you aren't kidding.

http://www.wset.com/news/stories/0310/713130.html

This story isn't really new news its more of an update.  Last September Lisa Miller kidnapped her 7 year old daughter when a court awarded custody to her ex-wife Janet Jenkins (yes her and her partner got a civil union in Vermont).  Miller got involved in religion and became a self-proclaimed conservative Christian activist, denounced homosexuality claiming she had an, "encounter with the lord" and is a former homosexual.  Miller's friends might be hiding her (according to the article) and some act as if they have had contact with her.  Some of them comparing her kidnapping of her 7 year old to civil rights leaders ... yes they are comparing her to Harriet Tubman for kidnapping her daughter because she doesn't want her to live with her openly gay ex-wife.

That poor kid is going to have some serious issues if they find her (alive    ).  I don't know whats worse that this event has happened ... or that all her friends and family are saying its a wonderful thing she has kidnapped her daughter so she won't be with a homosexual woman -_-.

Quote from: "LoneMateria"That poor kid is going to have some serious issues if they find her (alive    ).  I don't know whats worse that this event has happened ... or that all her friends and family are saying its a wonderful thing she has kidnapped her daughter so she won't be with a homosexual woman -_-.

10 bux says the kid ends up gay.

Here's looking at your face 24/7 and playing out of the closet worldwide. My recommendations to gay christians is to take a stand and build their own church with their own Pope and set their relgious rules to according to their homosexuality. Its not up to any religion to decide on the sexuality of any individual or groups. Another option for homosexuals is to renounce religion and become free from the critics of our societies, set their own standards and morals according to their views of right and wrong. The courts in our society is more concerned with the legalities of any given behavior when in conflicts with some wrong. It can't enter a home and tell two men or two women that they can't live together. You don't need religion to determine your life. Religious beliefs holds you captive and chains your thougths, this leads to violent behaviours due to subconcscious psychological effects along with other factors. To each its own...................

http://www.examiner.com/x-8928-Philadelphia-Atheism-Examiner~y2010m3d12-Atheist-group-offers-to-hold-gay-friendly-prom

This one has been popular for a while I don't know why I haven't posted about it.  Basically the Itawamba County Agricultural High School in Mississippi (which as far as I can tell is a public school) was going to hold prom until they found out that one girl was going to wear a tux and take her girlfriend.  When the school found out about it they threatened to eject her if she does it.  To which she contacted the ACLU and threatened the school with a massive lawsuit if they attempted it.  Instead of just letting her take her girlfriend to the dance the school decided to cancel it.  Not only would they try to rob the seniors of their prom and pocket the cash, they made it perfectly clear that they hoped for some private organization or persons to provide a private prom that way they can discriminate if they want.  Unfortunately for them the group that answered was the AHA an atheist group that received a $20,000 donation and will host it and allow everyone to attend.


What no one in the article seems to ask is what the school will do with that pocketed money.  Nor do they get the school board's reaction to these events.  I still think a suit should be filed against the school because their bigotry towards homosexuals is the clear cause of this.  In order to act like they are not discriminating they punish an entire school due to their own shortsightedness and stupidity.  Though this issue isn't resolved, intuition tells me the battle has only been delayed :-/

Quote from: "LoneMateria"http://www.examiner.com/x-8928-Philadelphia-Atheism-Examiner~y2010m3d12-Atheist-group-offers-to-hold-gay-friendly-prom

This one has been popular for a while I don't know why I haven't posted about it.  Basically the Itawamba County Agricultural High School in Mississippi (which as far as I can tell is a public school) was going to hold prom until they found out that one girl was going to wear a tux and take her girlfriend.  When the school found out about it they threatened to eject her if she does it.  To which she contacted the ACLU and threatened the school with a massive lawsuit if they attempted it.  Instead of just letting her take her girlfriend to the dance the school decided to cancel it.  Not only would they try to rob the seniors of their prom and pocket the cash, they made it perfectly clear that they hoped for some private organization or persons to provide a private prom that way they can discriminate if they want.  Unfortunately for them the group that answered was the AHA an atheist group that received a $20,000 donation and will host it and allow everyone to attend.


What no one in the article seems to ask is what the school will do with that pocketed money.  Nor do they get the school board's reaction to these events.  I still think a suit should be filed against the school because their bigotry towards homosexuals is the clear cause of this.  In order to act like they are not discriminating they punish an entire school due to their own shortsightedness and stupidity.  Though this issue isn't resolved, intuition tells me the battle has only been delayed :-/

I hadn't heard about the atheist group who volunteered to finance the prom, that's awesome!  I bet that really grinds the school's gears.

It definitely will.  This is good PR for atheists.  It still irks me though that the school would deprive their school (and senior class) of their prom just because they can't handle two women going together.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/17/catholic-adoption-gay-parents

Well in London the Catholic Adoption Society has been exempt from the Sexual Orientation Regulations.  The Catholic Adoption Society somehow found around 100,000 pounds (I don't know how to make the pounds symbol) to fight to be able to discriminate against gay couples looking to adopt children ... and they won.  They are now allowed to discriminate on "religious" grounds.  Not only is that part of the article bad as it is, near the bottom it tells of other catholic adoption organizations that closed down instead of offering equal consideration to gay couples looking to adopt.  

   The irony in this with all the pedophile stories circulating is astounding.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/03/24/world/AP-AS-Indonesia-Gay-Conference.html?_r=4&ref=newsThe

Basically the ILGA (an international LGBT group) was going to host a 3 day conference in Indonesia to talk about Asian Gay activists.  This event was to take place this weekend.  This was supposed to be some big event.  Today the Indonesian police told them they can't have it  because they are afraid the muslims might riot (which is the politically correct term for blowing shit up).

This one isn't as much about gay rights as about religious terrorism.  I agree with the creators of South Park on this issue that when a government or people stop doing what they are doing because they are afraid what terrorists MIGHT do, that they are letting these terrorists win.  They aren't standing up for their freedoms they are letting organizations that rely on their fear dictate their lives.  They might as well be saying, "Terrorists we are afraid of you so we will submit to your will."  Which is the cowards way.